ICYMI: “Five Ways Democrats Have Helped Wisconsin Under Biden’s Leadership”
“The Biden administration’s record is robust and has already delivered more in 18 months than most modern-day presidents do in a full term.”
MADISON, Wis. – This summer, President Biden and Democrats took on special interests and won. While Democrats rack up win after win and pass historic legislation that will lower costs for working families across the country, Republican politicians continue to put their own partisan interests ahead of the families they’re supposed to represent.
Read how President Biden and Democrats are delivering for families across the Badger State:
UpNorthNews: Five Ways Democrats Have Helped Wisconsin Under Biden’s Leadership
“Here are five new laws the Democratic-led House and Senate have passed under Biden that delivers for Wisconsinites:
“1. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
“The most recent entry on this list might be the most impactful. The Inflation Reduction Act is a generational investment that a wide array of experts agree will lower healthcare and prescription drug costs, tackle climate change, and reduce inflation for Wisconsin families.
“‘This historic legislation makes crucial investments in energy, health care, and in shoring up the nation’s tax system. These investments will fight inflation and lower costs for American families,’ a group of 126 leading economists wrote in a letter to congressional leadership before the law was passed.
“In fact, an independent analysis from Moody’s Analytics found that the bill would reduce inflation over the long run. ‘As named, the Inflation Reduction Act will lean against inflation over the next decade,’ said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s.
“Every single Democrat in the US House and Senate voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, while every Republican politician—including Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson—voted against it.
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“2. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
“The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law last week, aims to change that by dramatically increasing domestic microchip manufacturing, a move that aims to strengthen supply chains, lower costs for consumers, create jobs, and make the US more economically independent.
“The law allocates $39 billion in incentives for companies to construct and expand manufacturing facilities in the US and $13.2 billion for workforce development programs and research and development efforts.
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“3. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022
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“In the aftermath of May’s devastating mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Congress finally passed legislation that aimed to address the scourge of gun violence.
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“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act invests roughly $10 billion for mental health, the largest-ever investment in America’s mental healthcare system.
“Most of that funding will go towards expanding certified community behavioral health clinics in every state. These clinics, which already exist in a handful of states as part of a Medicaid pilot program, are required to treat patients for mental health and/or substance use issues, regardless of their insurance coverage. These clinics also provide 24/7 crisis response, medication-assisted treatment, and have shown promise in treating patients.
“The bill also includes $1 billion to increase the number of mental health counselors in schools, provide additional funding for pediatric mental health care, distribute grants for mental and behavioral health organizations and community groups, and establish additional funding for the new 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
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“4. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021
“Better known as the ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,’ this proposal marked a key win for Biden, as it represented the largest investment in America’s infrastructure in decades.
“The bill—which most Republicans, including Sen. Johnson voted against—will deliver tangible results for Wisconsinites.
“Here’s just some of what the law does:
- provides funding to repair and upgrade Wisconsin’s roads and bridges to make them safer, representing the largest investment in repairing our nation’s bridges in more than half a century.
- funds the removal of lead pipes and invests $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water for millions of Americans at home, work, and school.
- invests billions to clean up polluted Superfund sites, reclaim abandoned mines, and cap abandoned oil and gas wells in order to protect the health of communities and reduce environmental harms.
- expands access to high-speed internet for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites that currently lack access.
- makes high-speed internet more affordable for approximately 1.2 million Wisconsinites.
- allocates funding to expand, improve, and modernize public transit systems.
- funds repairs and upgrades to Wisconsin’s airports.
- strengthens America’s power grid by investing more than $65 billion to upgrade the nation’s power infrastructure.
- invests in a significant build-out of electric vehicle chargers nationwide.
“You may not benefit from all of the law’s measures, but if you drive a car, ride a bus or train, drink water, use the internet, travel by airplane, or rely on a utility company for your electricity, chances are good that you’ll directly benefit from Biden’s infrastructure law in the coming years.
“5. The American Rescue Plan of 2021
“Remember those $1,400 checks we got in the spring of 2021? Yeah? Those were thanks to Biden’s American Rescue Plan, a goliath of a bill that provided both short-term help for Americans and long-term investments in sectors that support communities.
“Here’s just some of what the bill has done:
- gave most Wisconsinites $1,400 checks
- extended unemployment benefits at a time when the pandemic was still a crisis and unemployment rates were higher
- provided Wisconsin parents with monthly payments of $250 to $300 per child through the end of 2021 and made other tax credits more generous
- provided funding for public safety and crime reduction efforts
- funded affordable housing development in Wisconsin
- provided much-needed help to small businesses
- protected union members’ pensions
- helped Wisconsin expand its mental health workforce
- allowed Wisconsin communities to repair their sewer infrastructure
- funded job training programs in Wisconsin
- invested in Wisconsin’s healthcare centers, mental health treatment, and public health workforce
- expanded food assistance programs to keep Wisconsin families out of hunger
- expanded child care assistance and invested in schools and childcare programs
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